Seal.



W. M. STEELE.

SEAL. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5.1909.

1 011131400020: Q aflvewtoz g OFFIGE.

WILLIAM MERCER STEELE, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

SEAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1909.

Application filed. February 5, 1909. Serial No. 476,251.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, W'ILLIAM MERCER STEELE, a citizen of the United States, residing at the borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Seals, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to improvements in seals and is particularly adapted for and illustrated as what has become generally known as a car seal.

Referring to the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of the seal before being bent into the position shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is also a plan view of the same after having been formed with the end locked in position. Fig. 3 a cross section on the line 38 of Fig. 2 and Fig. i a cross section on the line H of Fig. 2.

From the drawings it will be observed that the invention may be worked out of a single piece of metal.

In the form illustrated the two rectangular sections 5 and 6 are laid over in parallel planes along the line of their intersection and at the same time the two lateral projections 7 and 8 are turned inwardly over the strip 9 forming a channel through which the end of the strip 9 may be introduced. After the rectangular sections have been laid over and fastened in any suitable manner such as by rolling the edge of the lower rectangle over the edge of the upper rectangle, the lateral projections 10 and 11 are then folded over the enlargement formed by the folded projections 7 and 8.

12 is a tongue or suitable resilient member formed with or attached to the end of the strip and is preferably elevated out of the plane of the strip.

13 and let are depressions or cups pressed into the metal preferably while being cut so that after the same has been bent over and bound in position as described the strip 9 may be turned over as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 and inserted through the channel formed by the projections 7 and 8 and bound by the projections 10 and 11 entering the chamber formed by the cups 13 and 14, where the tongue 12 upon attempting to withdraw the strip, engages one of the depressions 15 or 16, which may also be formed while cutting the material, thereby preventing the Withdrawal of the end of the strip and in case the end of the tongue misses engagement within the chamber formed by the cups 13 and 14:, upon attempting to further withdraw the end of the strip, the tongue 12 either engages the edge of the projections 7 and 8 or if bent in the opposite direction, the indentation 17 which may also be formed in the strip itself. From this it will be seen that the tongue 12 may be bent out of the plane of the strip 9 in either direction and upon entering the chamber is adapted to engage the recesses formed by the indentations 15 and 16 according to the side the tongue is bent from and upon missing either of these will be caught by the edge of the channel formed by the inner projections 7 and S or the projections 17 immediately in advance thereof.

Of course it will be understood that instead of forming projections at l5, l6 and 17, indentations may be formed serving to receive and retain the tongue 12 when attempting to withdraw the same. It will also be understood that other means may be employed at the end of the strip 9 and within the chamber formed bythe cups 13 and 14B for locking the loop when the end has been inserted as described. In fact various other modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a seal, a strip having lateral projections formed at one end and a receptacle adjacent thereto, said lateral projections from said strip being adapted to serve as a binder when folded in position, other lateral projections from said strip, another receptacle adjacent thereto, said receptacles secured together when folded, said first mentioned lateral projections being adapted to incase said other lateral projections from said strip, and means within the chamber formed by said receptacles when said strip is folded and in combination with the end of said strip whereby said strip is locked against withdrawal from said chamber after same has been introduced thereinto.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM MERCER STEELE.

WVitnesses:

LOUISE ENDERLE, THOMAS A. HILL. 

